Arrabella Haywood was but five years old when the Lord saw fit to take both her mother and new born brother into his arms, leaving her with naught but her grieving father for her to call family. Her early childhood was like that of most children of privilege, growing up in the care of a nurse maid, spending her hours in the nursery learning her letters and only seeing her father for a few glorious minutes per day. As she grew drawing, piano and pony's took the place of her dolls, jump rope and plays. By the age of fifteen Arrabella was thought by those on her estate to be a credit to her father, and whilst she had too much of his looks to be considered handsome, was far from plane.
Her childhood and early youth passed quietly within the confines of Arbury House and its surrounding park. And whilst Arrabella was never one to complain she often found herself lonely and lacked the companionship of other children her own age. For it was not proper for the young Miss to play with the children of the workers and servants around her. Nor was her father inclined to allow her the liberty of visiting the children in the other nearby estates as since his wife's death it was not his desire to make company of those around him.
All of this was about to change when not but eight days from her sixteenth birthday her father took ill and was departed from the world within a manner of hours. The funeral, a quiet somber affair, took place on the eve of her birthday with none but the Clergyman, Mr Haywood's steward, housekeeper, attorney and Arrabella present. What was to become of Arrabella you may ask, well that is where our story must begin.
Arrabella walked back into the house after her father's funeral, her mood a stark contrast to the stunningly beautiful day that was passing her by. She wished to break free from herself, to run, scream and shout at the top of her lungs at how unfair and unjust it all was. To not only loose her Mother and Brother, but now also her Father and her home before her sixteenth birthday. For Arabella had no close living relative, and Arbury House was entailed away to a distant cousin. But as she was never one to complain - and who was there to complain to, she took off her bonnet and made her way to her rooms to continue packing. A soft knock interrupted her solitude. Mrs Finch, the house keeper was come to fetch her for lunch.
"Now dear Arrabella, you must keep up your strength and whilst I understand that it must be very trying, you must make a good impression with your cousins when they arrive tomorrow". Mrs Finch scolded.
"Oh Mrs Finch, it is so unfair. What is to become of me? I understand from father's attorney that the new owners of Arbury House are proud and disagreeable, and shant want a young girl hanging about. Surly they will send me away to school or to some other distant place and I shall never see any of you again!"
"Do not dwell on such things; you do not know any such thing as yet. It dose not do well to prejudge, and there is no point fixing your mind to worry on something that may never come to pass".
However well-meant Mrs Finch's words were, they did not hold to be true, and Arrabella did very well to worry. For but not a few hours later the new owners of her home arrived, and they were worse than she could have every hoped.
Mr and Mrs Hurst stepped out of their carriage to survey their new House.
"Well Caroline, what do you think?" Mrs Hurst addressed her sister who was come to live with them as the party of three made their way up the steps to the main entry passing Arrabella without so much as a nod.
"My dearest Louisa, it is positively charming, although a little out dated. Nothing that Mr Hurst and we cannot correct. My only hope is that the orphan is no longer within!"
"Yes too true Caroline. It would be most disagreeable to have ones happiness at such fortune been impeded upon by a moody and depressed country chit. We must make sure that she vacates the property as soon as can be. Lord knows she is a drain on the estate as it is - do you know her Father left 15,000 pounds for her dowry as well as a small house in Bath!"
"From what I hear Louisa she will need the dowry for she has nothing else to recommend her! No, no. If she is still in residence, you must send her away today!"
Arrabella's heart dropped. For they weren't just here early, but she was going to be sent away on the very day she berried her Father. Making her way slowly back up to her room she could not block out the nasally, shrill voices of the ladies in the drawing room. Arrabella excused herself from dinning with her cousins, instead packing her last few treasures into her trunk.
The following morning, she was called into her father's old study. Being there brought a lump to the back of her throat. The smell of her father's cigars and cologne hung on the air, she could picture him sat behind the desk, but in his place was Mr Hurt and across from him her father's attorney.
"You asked for me Sirs" Arrabella said with as much dignity as she could muster.
"Yes child, we are left in a difficult situation Miss Haywood with as to what to do with you. My dear Louisa cannot have you here, and as such we must find you a new home. Should you wish to go to school for a few years? Be around other girls you own age? Or maybe move into you house in Bath, there would be a lot more in Bath to occupy the mind of a young lady and I'm sure we can find you a suitable companion." Mr Hurst spoke with much more compassion that she ever could have imagined when looking at his wife and sister in law.
"I thank you Sir for your thoughtfulness, and I was always under the impression that I would be required to leave Arbury House. Perhaps I may have some time to think upon it Sir?"
"Certainly child, I'm sure we can withstand Louisa and Caroline's displeasure for a few weeks. Oh and just to give you forewarning, we are expecting my brother in law and wife here tomorrow to break their journey. They are moving from Hertfordshire to his new estate in Derbyshire and will be staying her for a few nights."
With that Arrabella was dismissed.
The gentlemen continued their conversation regarding the future of Arrabella for several hours after her dismissal.
"It is a sad situation Mr Hurst, one that I find most distressing, poor Miss Haywood has never been away from home before, and has very few acquaintances outside of the house hold staff. I fear she will become withdrawn and loose the spark of youth after these events. I would take her under my roof as her guardianship has passed to myself along with you, however I am a single man and it would hardly seem appropriate for her to reside with me when we are of no relation. May I ask as to why you and Mrs Hurst cannot keep her here?"
"As to that Mr Williams the blame must be laid at the feet of my sister in law, Caroline. My wife's sister is very much used to getting her way and does not like to have anything out of place. I fear that if the child was to stay here with us Caroline would smother her and crush her spirit even more than being away from her childhood home ever could. If it were just Louisa and I, I would have no issue with the girl."
"Perhaps your brother in law would have some ideas as to what to do with Miss Haywood?"
"Yes indeed Mr Williams you are quite correct, Bingley or his friend Darcy shall know what to do, for Bingley has two young sisters in law and Darcy has a younger sister not much older than Miss Haywood. It is decided; we shall wait until Bingley gets here and defer to his better judgment."
